Packing machine



April 5, 1932 M. M. RAYMER ET Al. 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7. 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet l Aprll 5, 1932. M. M. RAYMER ET AL. 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7,1928 13 Sheets-sheet 2 H1, II

- INVENTORS ATTORNEY pil 5, 1932'. M. M. RAYMl-:R E1' Al.y 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed `July 7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY N w .w w f 7 II/Mmmmmwmmmmw 1 |1L||||li||IIHUHHHHH H l mx r|||||||l|||||i|||HUMMWHHMHMMNHW. M l m w iur H m ww www u uw* mw No MNC m v --5 April 5, 1932. M. M. RAYMER ET AL PACKING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR S ATTORNEY April 5, 1932. M. M. RAYMER ET Al.

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 mwN Ml|||lll||||IIIIIl IIVENTORX fM-MNA "h1 Qw MA BYMQAA 5. f90-04a ML; d 4k, ATTORNEY April 5, Y1932. M. M. RAYMER ET Al.

PACKING MACHINE v15 sheets-sheet e Filed July 7, 1928 h Il Il r- MEM @e a M( ATTORNEY April 5, 1932. M. M. RAYMER ET AL 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1928 i3 sheets-sheet 7 A'I TORNEY April 5, 1932. M. M. RAY: *ER ET AL PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEY April 5,-1932. M. M. RAYMER ET AL. l 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1928 1:5 sheets-sheet 9 ITI r i QP N if" @j fg-E@ I N QRQS I Il' [HH w l WI.. Sem g -f III y I X I i? EF law i T:S

INVENTORS` Q www W RAe/Amd 5.10014, B

YM eea@ ATTORNEY April 5, 1932- M. M. RAYMER ET Al. 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July '7. 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet 1'0 INVENTORS "Wb my) )SY/@mdd S- Pme,

@um MMA,

ATTORNEY April 1932- M` M. RAYMER E11-AL' 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7. 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 1l ATTORNEY plril 5, 1932. M- M, RAYMER ET AL 1,852,790

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 ATTORNEY April 5, 1932. M. M. RAYMER ET Al.

PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1928 13 Sheets-Sham; l5

10761- Tic-El.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-FicE MORRIS M. RAYMER, OF CHARLTON TOWNSHIP, XALAMAZOO COUNTY, AND RICHARD S. POOLE, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASBIGNORS TO XELLOGG COMPANY, 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE PACKING MACHINE Application mea :uiy` 7,

The invention relates to packing machines, and has for its object to provide a. novelmachine constructed and arranged to facilitate the packing of units of material, such as shredded whole wheat biscuits, in an orderly fashion within cartons wrappers, and other containers, and to provide for the mechanical packing in a simple and reliable manner of bulk materia-l in suitable enveloping material. Other more specific objects of the 1nvention will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which 1llustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is side elevation of one end portion of the novel machine; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other end portion thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan ofone end portion of the machine; Fig. 4 is a similar view of an intermediate section thereof; Fig. 5 is a corresponding view of the other end port1on of said machine; Fig. 6 is an end View looking at the right hand end of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an opposite end view looking at the left hand end of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig.

` 5 looking in a direction opposite to that of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a corresponding view looking in a direction opposite to that of Fig. -1; Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line v10--10 of Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a detail section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side View of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a detail cross-section on the line 14:-14 of Fig. 13; Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views, looking at right angles to each other, of gluing means included in the machine; Fig.' 17 is a. detail view 'of folding mechanismwhich forms part of the machine; Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are diagrammatic views illustrating successive steps in the operation of the folding mechanism, and Fig. 22 is a detail section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 17.

For the purpose of illustration and description, and for no other reason, the machine isv shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter in a form adapted particularly for the packing of units, such as shredded whole wheat biscuits= 1t being un- 1928. Serial N0. 291,005.

derstood that the mechanical and other features which constitute the essence of the invention, are equally well adapted for the mechanical packaging of bulk materials. In all of the forms, the machine consists primarily of a series of receptacles, suitable for receiving the food or other material to be packed, said receptacles being mounted on a travelling carrier whereby they are carried from one end of the machine to the other in a continuously recurring cycle of operations. After being filled, the receptacles are arranged to receive the cartons or other containers in which the material is ultimately to be contained, and are then inverted and brought into operative combination with ejecting means whereby the material is d'ischarged from the receptacles into said cartons or. other containers coincidentally with the removal of the latter from the receptacles, these latter steps taking place during the return of the receptacles to their initial positions. In order to simplify the description, the goods being packed will hereinafter be referred to as biscuits, with the understand- -ing that this term and the illustration thereof exemplifies the material, regardless of its character, adapted to be packed.

The machine comprises a supporting frame 25 of suitable construction and dimensions on which a travelling carrier, illustrated in the form of parallel, spaced sprocket chains 26, is mounted in any conventional manner, so that at least the upper run of the carrier travels from one end of the machine to the other in a horizontal plane. The sprocket chains 26, as shown, pass over sprocket wheels 27 secured upon a shaft 28 journalled in suitable bearings at one end of the machine, and over similar sprocket wheels fixed upon a shaft 29 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings at the other end of the machine; the carrier exemplified by the sprocket chains 26, may be operated in any convenient way as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.y

A plurality of supporting members 30 are secured at spaced intervals to the chains 26 so as to travel therewith, and preferably are provided with guide projections 31 movable lengthwise of stationary guideways 32 fixed upon the fraine 25 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. With this arrangement the upper run of the carrier is maintained in a constant path, the same being true in the illustrated example of the machine, of the lower run which thus also travels over a ixedgpath in a horizontal plane. Each carrying/member 30 has mounted thereon a receiving member 33 pivoted at 34 and-constructed, as to dimensions and form in accordance with the material being handled by the machine. In the illustrated example the receiving members 33, which for convenience may be termed pockets, are dimensioned and shaped to accommodate the conventional shredded whole wheat biscuits, and are in the form of elongated trays the outer ends of which are open. The receivinv members 33, are arranged in cooperative re ation to retaininv` forms 35 secured upon the supporting members 30 in permanent perpendicular relation thereto; the retaining forms 35 in the illustrated example correspond in shape to the receiving members 33 and are dimensioned to receive the same and in any ease are adapted to form with said receiving members 33 tubular receptacles as shown in Fig. 14, the outer ends of which are open as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5'and 12. `The receptacles formed by the combined receiving members 33 and retaining forms 35 preferably correspond in cross-sectional form to the shape of the cartons or other containers in which the material is to be packed, and are dimensioned so as to be capable of telescopically receiving said cartons or other containers as will appear more fully hereinafter. The receiving members or pockets 33 are pivotally movable from vertical closed positions, in which they project into the retaining forms 35, to inclined open positions at predetermined angles for instance, of fifty-three degrees more or less as shown in Fig. l1. With this arrangement a series of pockets 33 and cooperating retaining forms 35 are mounted at spaced intervals upon the sprocket chains 26 to move therewith. Any suitable means may be provided for shifting the pockets 33 to and from their open positions and vice-versa andto maintain them in such positions for the required operative periods. For instance, as shown in Fig. l1 of the drawings, the receiving members or pockets 33 are provided with arms 36 fixed against relative movement upon said pockets at the proper points and having slots 37 adapted to slidably accommodate pins 38 or their equivalent which are carried by control levers 39. The latter are pivoted at 40 for instance upon brackets 4l fixed upon the supporting members 30 and at their free ends are provided with rollers or equivalent devices 42 to engage the pocket opening cam 43 and subsequently the pocket closing cam 44. Preferably the machine includes means whereby the pockets 33, after having been adjusted to their open and closed positions by the pocket opening and closing cams 43 and 44, are positively maintained in such positions during the operative stages wherein thisis desired. For this purpose a stationary rail 45 is suitably mountef1 on the frame 25 so as to extend lengthwise thereof from a point contiguous 'to the pocket opening cam 43 into delivery relation to the pocket closing cam 44, said rail 45 being en aged by the rollers 42 which travel lengt wise thereof in the operation of the machine; to facilitate the transfer of the rollers 42 from the pocket opening cam 43 to the rail 45 the latter may include an inclined continuation 45 extending over the cam 43 in spaced parallel relation therewith. A similar rail 46, which may comprise a continuation of the pocket closing cam 44, is fixed upon the frame 25 for engagement by the rollers 42 to maintain the pockets 33 in their closed positions, said rail 46 including a continuation 46 curved about the shaft 29 as a centre and extending in the direction of travel of the lower runs of the sprocket chains 26 as shown in Fig. 8. To avoid the possibility that the pockets 33 may not be properly positioned within the retaining forms 35 to telescopically receive the cartons, in the manner to be more clearly set forth hereinafter, the retaining forms 35 with the pockets 33 housed therein are caused to pass between vertical form closing rollers 33El rotatably mounted in a sub-frame 25l1 located upon the frame 25 as shown in Figs. l and 11 of the drawin s. In addition to the above the machine pre era-bly includes means whereby the pockets 33 are positively maintained in their closed ositions during the periods at which coinci ental removal of the biscuits a or other material and the cartons b or other containers from the tubular receptacles formed by the pockets 33 and retaining forms 35 takes place. In the form shown in Fig. 9, this means comprises a stationary rail 47 fixed at the proper place upon the frame 25 in a position to be engaged by the rollers 42 to ,thereby lock the levers 39 and arms 36, and/consequently the pockets 33 against pivotal movement toward their open positions.

In order that the transfer of the biscuits a from the tubular receptacles formed by the co-acting pockets 33 and retaining forms 35 may be efficiently and positively accomplished without the possibility of interruption, the pockets 33 are preferably fitted with mechanically operated ejectinfr means of suitable type. In the illustrated example of the machine this ejecting means consists of ejectors 48 in the form of plates of substantially the same size as the interior dimensions of the pockets 33 and preferably inclined relatively to the major walls of said pockets to form acute angles therewith as shown in Fig. 12. These ejectors 48 are carried by slides 49 and, if necessary, are suitably braced by braces 50,

'and outer surfaces of the pockets 33 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. llxtcrnally A of the pockets 33 the slides 49 carry rollers 53 ada ted to travel along a stationary cam 54 fixed) upon the frame 25 at the proper place for causing said ejectors 48 to function, and to engage a stationary curved cam 55 constitutmg a continuation of the cam 54 at one end of the machine as shown in Fig. 9, whereby said ejectors 48 are restored to their initial positions, as will be described more fully further on in the specification.

In machines, such as that of the drawings, whichY are designed for packing units of materia-l, such as the shreddedwhole wheat biscuits a, to a predetermined number in individual cartons, the most efficient results are obtained by locating a predetermined number of operators at different points of the machines, which points for convenience of description may be referred to as stations, at which chairs 56 of conventional type may he located for the convenience and comfort of operators. In the illustrated example five statlons A, B, C, D and E are included at which progressive packing of the biscuits or other units takes place, a sixth Station F being located at the proper point of the machine for'enabling an operator to place the cartons b in position upon the tubular receptacles formed by the pocket-s 33 and retaining form 35 as will appear more fully hereinafter. In practice the carrier chains 26 are continuously driven throughout a given period of operation to successively carrythe pockets 33 and retaining forms 35 to the aforesaid stations in accordance with a predetermined and definitel cycle of operations. As previously stated herein, any suitable means may be provided for operating the carrier chains 26 in a manner to acco-rd with the above plan of action. To facilitate the packing of biscuits or other units as in the illustrated example, itis desirable, however, to have the chains 26 or equivalent travelling carrier moving very slowly while the pockets 33 are passing the successive stations A, B, C, D and E in order to permitthe biscuits or other units to be placed therein without the need for special haste and to then move very rapidly to transfer the pockets from one of said stations to the next in a minimum period of time. For this purpose the driving means for the chains 26 includes elliptical gears 57 and 58 which mesh with each other and are carried by shafts 59 and 60, journalled in suitable bearings on the frame 25. To rotatably operate these elliptical gears 57 and 58, the shaft 59 carries a pinion 61 which is connected byl means of a sprocket chain 62 with a sprocket wheel 63 loosely mounted on a shaft 64 journalled in suitable bearings on the frame 25; an idler sprocket 62 may be provided for taking up slack in the chain 62 if desired. VThe sprocket wheel 63 is in fixed connection with a gear 65 to rotate therewith, said gear 65 being also loose upon the shaft 64 and meshing with a clutch gear 66 loosely mounted on a shaft 67 also journalled in suitable bearings on the frame 25. The clutch gear 66 carries a clutch member 68 which is arranged to coo crate with a mating clutch member 69 slldably mounted upon the shaft 67 and fixed to turn therewith; a suitable operating lever 70 pivotcd at 71 upon the frame 25 is connected with the clutch member 69 and is adapted to be manually operated to shift the latter into and out of engagement with the clutch member 68 at will. The shaft 67 further has fixed thereon a gear 72 meshing with a pinion 73 secured upon the shaft 64 which in addiion carries a sprocket wheel 74 connected by means of a sprocket chain 75 with an electric motor or other source of power, which it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate in the drawings. The operative connection between the driving means above set forth and the carrier chain 26 is effected by means of a pinion 76 fixed upon the shaft 60 and meshing with a gear 77 secured upon the shaft 29 on which the carrier chain sprockets 29 are mounted.

The biscuits a: or other units to be packed may be supplied to the operators at the statlons A, B, C, D and E in any convenient manner. For instance, as shown in the drawings, the biscuits a'may be delivered in a continuous supply by means of a conveyor belt 78 located in front of the carrier chains .26 with its upper run travelling horizontally in substantially the same plane therewith as shown in Figs. 7 and l0; in the preferred arrange-ment the supplies of biscuits a may be conta-ined in pans P or their equivalent which are carried by the belt 78 to the stations A, B, C, and E in succession. The conveyor belt 78 1s endless and passes over rollers 78a and 7 8b located at opposite ends of the machine, said rollers being mounted respectively upon shafts 79 and 80 journalled in bearings 81 and 82; as shown in Fig. l, the bearings 81 may be slidably mounted in brackets 83 fixed upon the frame 25 and provided with adjust ing screws 84 or equivalent devices for taking up slack in said conveyor belt 78. The bearings 82 are fixed upon the frame 25 and the shaft 8O journalled therein is provided with a sprocket wheel 85 connected by means of a sprocket chain 86 with a cooperating sprocket secured upon the shaft 29 whereby motion is imparted to said conveyer belt 78 in the desired manner. Supporting rollers 87 may be provided as needed for the lower run of the' conveyor belt 78, the upper run thereof being supported against .sagging .by a rigid supporting frame comprising strlps 88 over which it travels.

The cartons in which the biscuits a are contained in `predctern'iined number are generally of that class of containers which are constructed from cardboard so as to be foldable from a flat condition to an open condi-i tion, in which said carton customarily comprises a body, the opposite ends of which are closed by flaps. For the purpose of eiiciency operating with such cartons the illustrated machine is provided with means for closing the bottoni end of the containers and for gluing the same. The means as shown in the drawings consists of a tucker 89 fixed upon a shaft 9() rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the frame 25 and carrying a pinion 91; the latter meshes with a second pinion 92 secured upon a stub shaft 93 journalled on the frame 25 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The stub shaft 93 further carries a sprocket pinion 94 connected by means of a sprocket chain 95 with a sprocket wheel 96 secured upon the shaft 30, so that said tucker 89 is operatively connected with the motor or other driving means through the previously described gearing which includes the elliptical gears 57 and 58. A tension sprocket 97 carried by a lever 98 pivoted on the stub shaft 93 may be provided to compensate for any slack in the sprocket chains 95. In addition to the above, the means for closing the bottom ends of th-e cartons includes a member 99 fixed at one end of the machine and curved about the shaft 29 as a centre, said member 99 serving as a flap retainer in the manner to be more fully7 set forth hereinafter. The tucker 89 and the flap retaining member 99 serve to successively fold the front flaps b1 and rear flaps 52, the latter terms being used merely with respect to the position occupied by the cartons and the direction of movement thereof, at the time. Distending members 100 are located in registry with the member 99 upon a crossbar 101 fixed on the frame 25 and are constructed and arranged to distend the side flaps b3 of the, cartons, as illustrated in Fig. 16, and guide the same, in such distended positions to gluing bars 102 suitably mounted in the machine in operative relation to glue rolls 103 carried by the shaft 67 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The glue rolls 103 have their peripheral surfaces in glue receiving relation to glue receptacles or pots 104 suitably supported upon the crossbar 101 as shown in Figs. 5, 15 and 16; the glue receptacles 104 may be of any conventional type and if desired may include scrapers 105 capable of being adjusted by means of hand screws 106.

The flap retaining member 99 at its lowerA or exit end terminates in proximity to opposite acting folding members 107 and 107a preferably provided at their opposed ends with rollers 108 and transversely slidable in directions toward and away from each other in stationary guides 109 fixed upon the frame 25 at the proper points. The folding members 107 and 107 are transversely operated by any suitable mechanism, the latter in the illustrated example comprising bell-crank levers 110 pivoted at 111 upon the frame 25 and in pin and slot connection with said members 107 and 107 at 112. The bell-crank levers 110 are pivotally connected at 113 with links 114 at one end thereof, the opposite ends of said links being forked as indicated at 115 and slidably straddling uprifrht shafts 116 and 116a journalled in suitable bearings on the frame 25 as shown in Fig. 7. At their forked ends 115, the links 114 are provided with depending rollers 117 which project into the cam grooves'118 of cams 119 fixed upon the shafts 116 and 116g, said cams being connected to rotate in unison by means of a belt or chain 120 as shown in Fig. 7. The arrangement of the cam grooves 118 is such that the folding members 107 and 107a will be inversely reciprocated, so as to perform their folding functions in alternate sequence as will appear more fully hereinafter. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the cams 119, as for instance by providing the shaft 116 with a bevel gear 121 in mesh with a similar bevel gear 122 fixed upon the shaft 60 as shown in Fig. 7. Suitable stationary folding guides 123 are secured upon the frame 25 in advance of and in proximity to the folding members 107 and 107 as shown in Fig. 17, said guides 123 serving to function successively to partly fold the side flaps of th-e cartons inwardly prior to the complete folding thereof by the folding members 107 and 107.

The machine of the drawings further includes an endless dryer belt 124 located in receiving relation to the aforesaid folding means and passing over rolls 125 mounted at opposite ends of the machine on shafts 126 journalled in suitable bearings; in the illustrated example one of said shafts 126 carries a sprocket pinion 127 connected by means of a sprocket chain 128 with a sprocket pinion 129 secured upon the shaft 60 whereby said dryer belt is in driving connection with the motor or other power plant through the previously described gearing which includes the elliptical gears 57 and 58. The upper run of the dryer belt 124 is supported against sagging by means of closely adjacent supporting rolls 130 journalled on the frame 25 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; a suitable tension device 131 may engage the lower run of the belt 124 for maintaining the latter under the proper tension. The dryer belt 124 is not heated, although it may be if this is desirable for any reason; in the present instance the term dryer is employed to designate a device arranged to maintain the/glued closing moisture from the glue into the carton material rather than an actual evaporation of moisture by heat. A discharge belt 132 is located at a downward inclination to the dryer belt 124 as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, and passes over rollers v133 carried by shafts 134 journalled upon a sub-frame 135 which projects from and is secured to that part of the main frame on' which the dryer belt 124 is mounted. If desired, or found necessary, guard rails 135aL may be fixed upon the subframe 135 at opposite sides of the belt 132 to prevent the cartons b or their equivalent from leaving the belt 132 and to guide them in their travel to the discharge end thereof. The discharge belt 132 is driven in any convenient manner as by having one of the shafts 134 provided with a pinion 136 in mesh with a pinion 137 fixed upon a stub-shaft 138 rotatably mounted upon the sub-frame 135; the st-ub-shaft 138 in turn carries asprocket 139 connected by. means of a sprocket chain 140 with a sprocket 141 fastened upon the carrier chain shaft 28 as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. If, as in the illustrated example, the receiving end of the discharge belt 132 is located in spaced relation to the delivery end of the dryer belt 124, the machine preferably includes a transfer device whereby the filled cartons, or their equivalent, are transferred from the dryer belt 124 to the discharge belt 132 ina manner to prevent dropping of said cartons. As shown in the drawings'this device comprises a carton retaining member 142 fixed upon a shaft 143 journalled in brackets 144 which, for instance, form part of the subframe 135 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9, said retaining member 142 being held in and returned to the normal receiving position, shown by full lines in Fig. 1, and by dotted lines in Fig. 9, by means of a spring 145; the latter has its one end secured to a pin 146 on theframe 25 and its other end fastened to an arm 147 fixed upon the shaft 143.

In packing certain commodities, such as the shredded whole wheat biscuits a, it is desirable to separate adjacent biscuits or adjacent layers of biscuits or their equivalent, by means of cards c of paper, cardboard or other suitable material dimensioned to fit the interior of the cartons b or equivalent containers. In the machine, as illustrated in the drawings, stacks of such cards c are contained in stationary magazines -148 of suitable form located upon the frame 25 within easy reaching distance of the operators at the several stations A, B, C, D and E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in the preferred arrangement the cards c are successively removable from the bottom ofthe stacks through discharge openings 149 providedyadjacent to the bottoms 150 of said magazines as illustrated in ig. 11.

To facilitate the successive removal of the terminal cards'from the bottoms'of the stacks, each magazine includes suctiolr means whereby said terminal cards are selectively adjusted and held in positions ready for easy removal by the operators at the proper time. Each suction means,\\in its illustrated form,

comprises a suction cup 151 carried by a lever 152 fixed upon a shaft 153 journalled in b rackets'154 at the lower end of each magazine in operative relation to the aforesaid discharge openings 149 as shown in Fig. 11. The shafts 15S-are each provided ywith an arm 155 connected by means of links 156"with levers 157 as indicated in Fig. 11, said levers 157 being all located upon a control shaft 158 journalled in suitable bearings 159 suitably secured upon the main frame 25. The control shaft 158 has fixed thereon, at one end, a control lever 160 connected by means of a connecting rod or link 161 with an arm 162 pivoted at 163 upon the frame 25; at its free end the arm 162 is provided with a roller 164 arranged for engagement with a suitable cam -165 fixed upon the shaft 28 as illustrated in Fig. 9. Preferably the arm 162 is provided with a plurality of apertures 166 for the reception of the one end of the rod 161 to vary its point of connection with said arm 162 whereby the operative movements of the suction cups 151 may be varied ineXtent at will. The suction cups 151 are individually connected by means of suction hose 167 with a common suction manifold 168 in which suction is continuously maintained throughout a glven period of operation by any conventional form of suction producing means with which said suction manifold 168 is suitably connected.

If the nature of the units or other material being packed makes it desirable, the machine may further include a discharge chute 169 eX- tending lengthwise of the machine at an inclination beneath the upper run of the carrier chains 26 and preferably above the lower run thereof; as shown in Fig. 10, the chute 169 may be suitably secured at 170 to the upper and lower guides 32 so as to extend between the same at an angle. The lower runs of the carrier chains 26, and associated mechanism, is thus protected against crumbs or other residue of material which may develop in the handling of the units, such as the biscuit-s a or other material being packed, and as a result is prevented from becoming clogged or otherwise rendered deficient in operation; as clearly shown in Fig. 10, the chute 169 will deflect the crumbs or their equivalent out of the machine in the manner indicated by the arrows. v

The following description sets forth the operation of the machine in its illustrated form as used for packing shredded whole wheat biscuits, it being understood that the operation will be substantially the same regardless of the material being packed, although it may vary in details to meet the requirements of the particular type of material being packed. In practice, the biscuits a are delivered to the machine in any convenient manner and from any suitable source of supply, and as shown may be contained in predetermined numbers upon pans P which, in such case, are carried by the' conveyor belt 78, for instance, from right to left.- As-a result vof this, a given pan of biscuits will be carried successively to the stations A, B, C, D and E. At the same time, the carrier chains 26 will be correspondingly actuated and accordingly will cause the pockets 33 and retaining forms 35 to move to the same stations successively. As the carrier chains 26 travel in the indicated manner, the rollers 42, by engagement with the pocket opening cam 43, will gradually swing the pockets 33 from an upright position within the retaining forms35to gradually more inclined positions. In their passage along the cam 43, the action of the latter will pivotally swing the levers 39 and cause the pins 38 to shift lengthwise of the slots 37 and to' thereby exert a forcev upon the arms 36 tending to pivotally swing the pockets 33 to their inclined positions, asis clearly shown in Fig. 11. By

' the time the pockets reach the station A the fully inclined position of 53 more or less will have been reached and the rollers 42 will by this time be in rolling engagement with the rod 45 to fix said pockets 1n said linclined positions. As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the open pockets thus extend toward the operators seated on the chairs 56 at the respective stations A-E and within easy reach of such operators, and in cooperative proximity to the supply of biscuits a. As a pocket 33 reaches the operator at station A, said operator places two biscuits a within said pocket and upon the ejector plate 48 therein'. By reference to Fig. 11 it will be seen that the ejector plate 48 forms an acute angle with the pocket 33. This .arrangement reduces the apparent width of the space occupied by the biscuits while contained in the pocket and thus allows the biscuits to fit the available space between a given pocket 33 and the cooperative retaining form 35, without crushing. In packing the biscuits a, it is customary to place cards c of suitable material, such as paper or cardboard, between the respective layers of two biscuits.' The operator at station A having placed the first two biscuits a upon the ejector plate 48 withdraws a card c from the lower end of the stack in the magazine 148 which is nearest to her and places this card upon the two first biscuits. At the stage when a card 0 is required, the terminal cards at the lower ends of the respective stacks will be drawn downwardly by the action of the suction cups 151 and their associated parts to the position indicated in Fig. 11. This will be brought about by the action of the cam 165 on the arm 162, which-alt the proper moment is operated to rock the shaft 158 in a direction to cause a push to be exerted by the levers 157, links 156 and arms 155 to thereby rock the shafts 153 and swing the arms 152 and`suction cups 151 to the position shown in Fig. 11. After the card c has been withdrawn, the suction means is' operated to return the suction cups 151 into engagement with the succeeding card e which now becomes the terminal card at the lower end of each stack in the magazines 148; as suction is continuously maintained in the suction manifold 168 throughout a given period of operation of the machine, the suction cups 151 will immediately be in suction connection with said terminal card, ready for the neXt operation by the cam 16,5 and its associated elements. lAs the pocket in which the two biscuits a have been placed reaches the operator at the station B, she in turn places two more biscuits a and av card c in the pocket. This operation is repeated by each operator at the respective stations so that by the time the pocket in question has reached the station E `it contains the predetermined number of biscuits orv other quantity of material which is to be packed in a carton b or its equivalent. Successive pockets are correspondingly filled with biscuits a and intervening cards o throughout a given operative period of the machine.

After the pockets have been thus lled with the predetermined supply of biscuits they will be carried along by the carrier chains 26 and-the rollers 42 will pass from the rod 45 and'will ride up on the pocket closing cam 44 which will act upon the rollers 42, the levers 39 and members 36 in a manner to swing said pockets into their upright positions in which they are housed within the retaining forms 35. At this stage the predeterminednumbers of biscuits a are thus located within the tubular containers formed by the pockets 33 and retaining forms 35, and rest in double columns with intervening cards c upon the ejector plates 48. In the continuedoperation 'of the machine, the rollers 42 travel along the rod 46 so that the pockets 33 are positively fixed in their closed positions within the retaining forms 35. The latter, with the pockets 33 housed therein, pass betweenthe form closing rolls 33a and are then ready to receive the cartons b. As the station F is reached, the operator, seated on the chair 56 thereat, takes successive cartons b from the supply contained in the magazine 171 located at the station F, and after bringing said cartons -b to their unfolded tubular condition, telescopically iits the same upon the combined retaining forms 35 and pockets 33 in an inverted condition. Suitable stops l17 2 Vare preferably provided upon the retaining forms to properly positlon the cartons b in the intended location on each cooperating retaining form 35 and pocket 33, as shown in the continued operation of the machine, as

shown in Fig. 8.

As the fiaps b1 and b2 are folded in the indicated manner, the cartons b will gradually approach the glue rolls 103. As this occurs, the side iaps b3 are engaged by the flap guides 100, bywhich said side flaps b3 are distendcd, as shown in Fig. 16. The side flaps o3 are thus spread far apart into an approximately flat position and therefore readily enter the spaces between the glue rolls 103 and the gluing bars 102 which press i said flaps b3 firmly against the glue rolls 103 so as to secure full contact of the flaps with said rolls, which accordingly provide said side flaps with coatings of glue. The cartons b with the front and rear flaps folded inwardly and the side flaps b3 distended outwardly and coated with adhesive, travel in a curved path as shown in Fig. 8, during which the rolls 42 pass alongthe curved rod 46, which comprises a continuation of the bar 46. As the carrier chains 26 resume a straight line motion in a return direction, the cartons are carried to the first folding device 123which gives the one side fla b3 a preliminary inward fold, as shown in ig. 18, after which the cooperating folding member 107.is actuated to complete the folding of this side fiap b3 as indicated in Fig. 19 and to bring the same into surface contact with the previously folded front and rear iiaps b1 and b2, to which said side flap adheres by the action of the adhesive. The folding member 107 is then moved in a return direction, and at the salne time, the other side flap Z13 is given a preliminary inward fold, as indicated in Fig. 20, and the second folding member 107n is actuated to complete the inward folding of the second side flap b3 to the position as shown in Fig. 21, in which said second side flap b3 adheres to the previously folded first side flap b3; in this way the bottoms of the cartons b are formed.

Leaving the folding means just described, the sealed cartons Z2 pass to the dryer belt 124, as shown in Fig. 8, the upper run of which travels in parallel relation to and at the sam-ev speed as the carrier chains 26 and holds the iaps in their folded position under pressure until the glue or other adhesive is dried sufficiently to firmly'secure the flaps in place; 1t will be understood that the dryer belt 124 is of such length that it will exert its influence upon the folded flaps for a period of time sufficient tofbring about the necessary drying of the adhesive. As the cartons which, it will be noted, are now in a proper upright position, leave the dryer belt 124, they engage themember 142 and are gradually lowered thereby against the tension of the spring 145 to the discharge belt v132 which is located at a downward inclination, as shown in Fig. 9. At this stage the rollers 53, located upon the pockets 33, engage the ejector cam 54 and as they travel along the same, shift the carriers 49 lengthwise of the slots 51 and thereby move the ejector plates 48 toward the open ends of the containers formed by the come bined pockets 33 and retaining forms 35. In this way, the stacked biscuits a with the intervening cards c are ejected from the aforesaid containers, coincidentally with the removal of the cartons o, which move downwardly'by gravity. At this stage of theoperations, the` rollers 42 travel along the rod 47 so that the pockets 33 are securely held within `the retaining forms 35, as is clearly shown in Fig. 9. Theilled cartons b being finally completely disengaged fromthe combin-ed pockets and retaining forms are carried along by the discharge belt 132 and are either manually removed therefrom or de livered thereby to a cooperating conveyor, by which said filled cartons may be carried away to have the upper flaps properly closed. As soon as the filled cartons have been thus disengaged, the rolls 53 will pass into engagement with the cam 55 which acts upon said rolls 53 and the slides 49 in a manner t o return the ejector plates 48 to their initial positions; these operations take place as the pockets 33 and retaining forms 35, still in closed combination with each other, pass in a curved path toward the upper run of the carrier chain-s 26, after which the foregoing operations are repeated.

It will be noted that while the biscuits occupy an inclined position, while the pockets and retaining forms travel with the upper run of the carrier chains 26, said biscuits,after having been acted upon by the ejector, are liberated from the confined space between the pockets 33 -and retaining forms 35 and thereafter lie flat upon the bottoms of the cartons b. In assuming this flat position, the effective Width of space occupied by the biscuits is such that they substantially fill the interiors .of the cartons.

As has been stated, biscuits are placed in the pockets and retaining forms in somewhat distorted units, that is, each biscuit is angularly disposed with resp-ect to the retaining Walls, and the ejector forms one end or closure for the pocket and retaining form. It is obvious that by varying the cam or its high portions, the volumetric'capacity of the pockets and retaining forms can be varied, as the 

